TALENTED young hopefuls from Cheshire are invited to audition for the second series of the BBC's hit show Fame Academy.

TALENTED young hopefuls from Cheshire are invited to audition for the second series of the BBC's hit show Fame Academy.

Anyone aged between 18 and 35 - with an amazing voice and a stunning personality - is requested to attend Manchester's New Centurion House in Corporation Street on Sunday, May 25.

Programme-makers say successful candidates will be offered the 'ultimate training for musical stardom' and benefit from an experience that put the class of 2002 into the chart.

Those with the raw talent needed to make it into the Academy will be hand-picked from audition tapes and talent searches across the UK. For details, call 08705 122200.

Singing ability is a must, but producers will also be keeping an eye out for students who can play instruments and compose music.

Once again, profits made from phone lines and record sales will be added to the Fame Academy Bursary fund, set up to support thousands of talented performers.

Details of how people under 30 can apply for the bursary will be announced in the coming month.

Fame Academy winner David Sneddon, who will be advising the Fame Academy Bursary's Board of Trustees, said: 'As a struggling young singer-songwriter, I was desperate for someone to give me the break I needed.

'I hope thousands of others get the opportunity they need through the &#xA3;1m raised so far, and whatever we can raise during this second series.'

Comic Relief Does Fame Academy was a highlight of Red Nose Day, with the phone lines raising more than &#xA3;600,000, helping the evening to become the charity's most successful to date.

The five top students from the first series - David Sneddon, Sinead Quinn, Lemar Obika, Malachi Cush and Ainslie Henderson - have all signed record deals and are writing, recording and touring their own material.

David Sneddon hit the top spot with his debut single.

* The Manchester auditions start at 9am, but people are asked to arrive as early as possible as only a limited number of applicants will be screen-tested. Candidates are requested to bring a recent full-length photo of themselves.